Method of and apparatus for banding tanks



June 8, 1943. J. M. CROM 2,321,465

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BAND] ING. TANKS Filed April 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 127124922303 @3282 M 03pm,

June 8, 1943. J. M. cRoM 2,321,465

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed April 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 40 /o fave/222 02 JZzw/M @0322, 3 5 =r Wm fl%2 ne ;s

Patented June 8, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS 4 Claims.

This invention relates to methodof and apparatus for banding tanks cricumferentially with rod reinforcement. Large tanks are ordinarily reinforced by steel rods extending annularly or or spirally therearound, and the application of these rods by present known methods is a considerable task since it requires not only extensive soaifolding but also a substantial amount of manual labor in threading the rod lengths through the scaffolding, raising them to the necessary elevation, and connecting and laying the rods in continuous length on the tank wall. The primary object of my ivention is the production of an improved method and apparatus for performing this operation more efficiently and with less expenditure of time, labor and materials.

The invention contemplates the employment of a rod carrying and working vehicle operative on a circular track extending around and adjacent to the tank to be handed. These tanks ordinarily extend to a considerable height and the vehicle embodied in the invention will not only extend to a corresponding height but will also be provided with a plurality of working platforms at different elevations for the convenient operation of workmen on the tank. The vehicle is adapted to be traversed around the tank and to lay the reinforcement thereon as it proceeds, lengths of rod reinforcement being carried by the vehicle at the required elevations and being connected to the line of reinforcement by the workmen as the banding operation progresses, the continuous length of rod being trailed behind the vehicle and laid on the tank as the vehicle travels along. All steps in the operation are substantially simplifled by my invention and the work is facilitated and the band placed uniformly and with substantially uniform tension as the vehicle progresses,

' of a tank,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the substantially completed tank, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view like Fig. 2 but showing a modification.

The tank illustrated in the drawings comprises a base In, a cylindrical side wall I2 having a dome-ring l4 integral therewith, and a dome 18. The tank can be constructed in any desired manner, as by the novel method disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 438,918 filed April 14, 1942. The side wall embodies vertical reinforcing rods I8 anchored at their top and bottom ends and incorporating sleeve nuts 20, the rods being substantially exposed at the outer face of the wall and being placed under tension by tightening the sleeve nuts. The rod tensioning' operation is ordinarily performed by first tapping the rods along their lengths, intermediately of their. anchored ends, to loosen the bonding engagement of the wall therewith and then tightening the nuts to a degree placing the rods under a predetermined tension and the wall in corresponding compression. The rods are preferably bonded at their ends, as at 2| in Fig. 4, before tighten ng the nuts 20. Following this tensioning operation the tank is banded circumferentially with reinforcing rods in contact with the rods l8. The purpose of my invention herein disclosed is. the more efficient application of these circumferential rods.

The invention contemplates the employment of a vehicle adapted to travel circumferentially around and adjacent to the side wall of the tank and to carryrod lengths which are joined together and wound into contact with the tank as the vehicle proceeds therearound. The vehicle illustrated comprises one or more cars 22 preferably traveling on rails 24 placed circumferentially around and adjacent to the tank, or the cars can be suspended from the tank as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 464,508 filed November 4, 1942. The tank side wall is relatively tall and scaffolding of corresponding height is carried on the cars andprovided with supporting platforms 26 at convenient working elevations. I preferably employ two or more cars and bridge the gaps therebetween at the platform levels with planking 23 and the cars are conveniently driven by an engine 30 suitably connected to wheels to act as drivers as at 29. The center of gravity of the cars is between the outer rail 24 and the tank and, as the upper platforms 26-28 are reached, the inner wheels 3| are removed and wheels 33 are placed to engage the wall of the tank at an elevated position 32 on the vehicle, these wheels 33 riding on the tank wall as the vehicle travels therearound, all as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The circumferential rods can be applied to the tank either annularly or spirally, the latter being more convenient and requiring no specific rod lengths.' A supply of rod lengths 34 are carried on the platform 26 most convenient to the working elevation and, in starting the spiral windin operation, one end of such "a rod length 34' is anchored to the exterior surface of the tank wall at the starting position, this position usually being at the base from which the banding operation proceeds upwardly. A second length 34 is then joined to the free end of th length 34' by a threaded sleeve nut 36 and the'cars are moved It will be readil apparent that my invention eflects a considerable saving in time, labor and materials and produces a more uniform banding of tanks than has been heretofore possible. It will-also be appreciated that the vehicles 22 together with the elevated platforms will be employed for tensloning the bands and placing the cementitious layer 42, thus eliminating the large forwardly by the engine in a manner wrapping the trailing band onto the tank wall. This operation is repeated and continued as the cars pass around the tank, the wrapping elevation being uniformly raised to provide a spiral reinforcement of the desired spacing. It will be understood that progressively higher platform 28 are employed by the workmen and for the supply of rod lengths 34 as the winding operation proceeds, whereby providing great convenience to the workmen and reducing required manual labor to a minimum. It is possible that the wrapping of the rods onto the wall can be sufficiently tight to maintain the bands at their original positions of application, but other supporting means such as wires 38 on the vertical rods l8 and wire mesh I9 can be employed especially when banding a tank with annular bands. In the latter case, the ends of each annular band are placed at progressively higher elevations on the tank.

When the circumferential wrapping has been completed and the top end anchored to the tank, the sleeve nuts 36 are tightened to a degree placing the band under the desired tension and the tank in corresponding compression. As illustrated in Fig. 5, I preferably spot bond the reinforcement to the tank at a plurality of spaced points 40 by shooting cementitious composition thereonto prior to the tensioning operation, as and for the purpose described in my Patent No. 2,315,895 dated April 6, 1943. The primary purpose of this spotting is to eliminate the possibility of loosening the entire wrapping should the band break at any point during tensioning. It will be appreciated that, with the band spotted at a plurality of locations 40, a break at any point would affect only that portion of the band located between the two adjacent spottings. When the tensioning of the band has been completed, a substantial layer 42 of cementitious material is applied to the outer face of the set and compressed concrete and to therods in a manner and to a depth completely covering the same and bonding all into a unit.

amount of scaffolding otherwise required.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A method of handing tanks circumferentially with rod reinforcement, which consists in supporting a supply of rod lengths on a vehicle adjacent the exterior face of the tank, supporting a rod length on the tank at said face, moving the vehicle around the tank adiacent to said face in a direction wrapping said rod length into contact with the tank circumferentially, and continuing to add further rod lengths and wind the resulting band into reinforcing engagement with the tank as the vehicle moves therearound.

2. The method defined in claim 1, plus the steps of adding the rod lengths and app the resulting reinforcement to different elevations on the tank from progressively different positions of elevation on the vehicle as the operation proceeds.

3. A method of banding tanks circumferentially with rod reinforcement, which consists in supporting a supply of rod lengths on a vehicle adjacent to the tank, anchoring one end of a rod length relative to the exterior of the tank adjacent to its base, moving the vehicle around the tank and adjacent to its exterior surface in a direction wrapping said rod length into contact with the tank, and continuing to add further rod lengths and wind the resulting band into reinforcing engagement with higher elevations on the tank from progressively higher elevations on the vehicle as the vehicle moves therearound and the operation proceeds.

4. Apparatus for banding tanks circumferentially with rod reinforcement, comprising a rail extending around and adjacent to the tank, a vehicle supported by wheels on the rail and including platforms located at different elevations and adjacent to the tank, the center of gravity of the vehicle being located between the rail and the tank, and means including wheels c'arried by the vehicle atan elevated position thereon and riding on the tank wall for cooperating with the rail wheels to support and guide the vehicle in its movement about the tank.

JOHN M. CROM. 

